The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-10-08
The GHEWlNG-GuM FAD.
MeD, Women and Children Habitual Users
OF Tolu and Paraftine.

Mon, Women and Children Habituai Users
of TOIu and Parafhne.
Few people have any realization of
the large interes' involved in the man
ufacture of chewing-gum, or of the ez-
tent to which it is habitually used.
They know that children love tb7
sticky morsel that keeps their jaws ia
motion, but the extent to which their
elders indulge similar fondness is
generally unsupported. Women are
not proof against the seductions of the
penny package, and hosts of men, who
hide the little wad when threatened
with discovery, are wont to slip their
small change in the hands of boyish
vendors of tolu and paratfine delights
Such is the testimony of dealers,
whose assertion finds occasional aroof
in the observations of every one. Chew
street cars, and even on the promenade
They are 80 addicted to the habit that
even in public they can not forsake its
exercise. But these are exceptional de-
voices. Many more indulge the taste
in private, secretly enjoying what they
blushingly confess or hide from every
eye. The masculine chewer must have
something in his mouth; perhaps be-
cause he is trying to escape from the
thralldom of tobacco, or because he
finds it a soothing aid to reflection. 1t
would be amusing to find on under
sides of somber desks the evidences of
such childish taste, but the discovery
might easily be made by any curious
investigator.
To meet this want vast amounts of
gum are annually manufactured. One
large firm in Elgin, with branch in
the city, averages 1,600 boxes a day,
and requires the services of more than
one hundred girls to wrap the little
packages. They keep in stock $4,000
worth of tiny pictures to adorn their
wares and catch the color-loving eyes
of little customers. Another firm in
New York City does business esti-
mated at $500, 900 yearly. Though this
is the largest mandatory in the
|
that do good business and that swell
the sum received to millions annually.
Though there are innumerable varie-
ties of gum, differing chiefly in flavor
ing and appearance, there are several
kinds that are wholly distinct. Of these,
the white or parafflne gums and the
darker-colored tolu gums are made in
largest quantities. All white varieties
are made of paraf1ine, an article re-
curing no description. Tolu gums are
the product of balsam tolu and the
chicle tree. The latter is found in
Mexico. 1t yields rubber-like gum,
called chicle, that can be easily chewed,
and is of creamy-brown color. Tolu
is yielded by the balsam tree that bears
its name. 1t is of dark color, and
serves the purpose of adding elasticity
to the compound. Sugar is used tc
sweeten gum, and various ingredient;
are added to furnish different flavors
Manufacturers report steadily in.
creasing demand for their ware;
throughout the country. This is espe
cially noticeable in the South, where
gum-chewing is supplanting the ole
snuff habit, to which women were
almost universally addicted. Whatever
may be thought of the new custom, il
is certainly better than the old, if only
on account of cleanliness. The chic
objection to it seems to be its lack o.
taste if not its positive vu1garty, but SC
long as human nature takes delight il
doing things not quite commendable
it probable could find few less harmful
diversions. Beauty with cud is not {
pleasing sight. however, and the socia
laws that forbid her to eat upon the
promenade should relegate the enjoy
ment of her gum to hours Of privacy
Chicago Herald.